1. NAME & AFFILIATION

1.1 The Club shall be called: Oxford Touch Rugby (OTR) (hereinafter referred to as "the Club") and it shall seek affiliation to and be bound by the rules of the Federation of International Touch.

1.2 The Club shall be an associated section of Gosford All Blacks Rugby Football Club (herein after referred to as “GABRFC”) and be further bound by the Rules of GABRFC.

2.1 The objects of the Club shall be:

• To sustain the growth of touch rugby (touch) within the Oxfordshire area
• To expose players to the highest level possible
• To spread the word of touch
• To undertake other activities incidental or conducive to the furtherance of these objects

2.2 The Club is committed to encouraging the highest ethical standards. All individuals involved in the Club should conduct themselves with integrity, transparency, accountability and in a fair and equitable manner.


3. MEMBERSHIP

3.1 The membership shall be available to all.

3.2 Members in each category shall pay Membership fees as determined in consultation with the GABRFC Management Committee and as fixed at each Annual General Meeting of the Club. The Club in General Meeting may also require Members to contribute to the funds of the Club by way of a special levy.

3.3 All members joining the Club shall be deemed to accept the terms of this Constitution, the Rules of GABRFC, and any bye-laws from time to time adopted by the Club, in particular without prejudice to the foregoing generality, the requirement to conduct themselves in accordance with the Club's Code of Conduct and the bye-laws as to discipline set out therein.

3.4 Any person seeking to join the Club shall submit an application to the Executive Committee. Members shall be admitted by the Executive Committee. Membership is open to all and no application for membership will be refused on other than reasonable grounds. There will be no discrimination on grounds of race, occupation, sex or religious, political or other opinion.


4. MANAGEMENT

4.1 The affairs of the Club shall be conducted by an Executive Committee which shall consist of the Officers of the Club plus a disclosed quantity of ordinary members, all of whom shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting.

4.2 The Officers of the Club, who shall be honorary, shall be the Chairman, Treasurer and Secretary. There will be a fixture coordinator; a social secretary and two further general members. If the post of any officer or ordinary committee member should fall vacant after such an election, the Executive Committee shall have the power to fill the vacancy until the succeeding Annual General Meeting.

4.3 All Executive Committee members must be members of the Club.

4.4 The said Officers shall also be the trustees ex officiis of the Club who shall hold any property belonging to the Club in their name and shall further be entitled to sue and be sued on behalf of the Club as trustees ex officiis. They shall all be entitled to personal indemnity out of the funds of the Club where they are acting bona fide in their capacity as Officers of the Club.

4.5 The Executive Committee shall have full power to deal with all matters relating to the Club not reserved to a General Meeting in terms of this Constitution, including power to make public and enforce such bye-laws as the Committee feel necessary to govern the activities of the Club.

4.6 The Executive Committee of the Club shall serve as a standing sub-committee of GABRFC with representation to the GABRFC Management Committee as determined by the Rules of GABRFC.


5. GENERAL MEETINGS

5.1 Annual General Meeting
The Club shall hold an Annual General Meeting in the month of February to:

• Approve the minutes of the previous year’s AGM
• Receive reports from the Chairman and Honorary Secretary
• Receive a report from the Honorary Treasurer and approve the Annual Accounts
• Receive a report from those responsible for certifying the Club’s accounts
• Elect the Executive Committee
• Appoint someone responsible for certifying the Club’s accounts
• Fix the subscription for the ensuing year
• Consider changes to the Constitution
• Review and consider any bye-laws
• Deal with other relevant business

5.2 Extraordinary General Meeting
An Extraordinary General Meeting shall be called by an application in writing to the Secretary supported by at least 10% of the members of the Club. The Executive Committee shall also have the power to call an Extraordinary General Meeting by decision of a simple majority of its members.

5.3 Notices
At least 14 days’ notice and the Agenda shall be given to all voting members of any General Meeting except for the first. No business shall be conducted unless fair notice thereof is contained in the Agenda.

5.4 Voting

• With the exception of changes to the Constitution, decisions put to a vote shall be resolved by simple majority at General Meetings.
• The Chairman of the Club shall hold a deliberative as well as a casting vote at general and committee meetings, in each case at the time the meeting commences its business.

5.5 Quora
The quorum at General Meetings shall be 20 per cent of the members and the quorum for Committee Meetings shall be 40 per cent of the members.

5.6 Changes to the Constitution

• Any change to the Constitution shall require a two thirds’ majority of those present, eligible to vote and voting at a General Meeting.
• A proposal to change the Constitution must be submitted in writing to the Secretary who shall circulate the proposal to all members and allow seven days for submission of any amendments before calling a meeting in accordance with rule 5.3 above.
• All proposals for changes to the Constitution shall be signed by two members eligible to vote at a General Meeting.

6. FINANCE AND ACCOUNTS

6.1 The financial year shall run from January to December each year.

6.2 The Honorary Treasurer shall be responsible for the preparation of Annual Accounts of the Club.

6.3 The Accounts shall be certified by an appropriate independent person elected annually at the Annual General Meeting.

6.4 All cheques drawn against the Club’s funds shall be signed by the Treasurer and one other nominated office-bearer.

6.5 All members of the Club shall be jointly and severally responsible for the financial liabilities of the Club.


7. DISSOLUTION

7.1 The Club is a non-profit making organisation. All profits and surpluses will be used to maintain or improve or develop the Club's facilities or to carry out the objects of the Association to which it is affiliated. No profit or surplus will be distributed other than to another non-profit making body on a winding-up or dissolution of the Club.

7.2 If, upon the winding up or dissolution of the Club there remains after the satisfaction of all its debts and liabilities any property whatsoever, the same shall be transferred to some other organisation or organisations having objects similar to the objects of the Club, such organisation or organisations to be determined by the members of the Club by Resolution passed at a General meeting or in the absence of such a resolution (or that the extent to which it cannot be given effect) to GABRFC or the Association to which the Club is affiliated.